Meet Ivonne Valdes who is the Global Vice President of Strategic Accounts at Schneider Electric.
Ivonne is one of 100 outstanding Silicon Valley professionals selected to be one of Silicon Valley Business Journal's 'Women of Influence'.
She is also the winner of Infrastructure Mason's Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award that recognizes and celebrates achievers in diversity and inclusion so their contributions become visible, rewarded and amplified throughout the industry. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated leadership and have gone above and beyond to support diversity and inclusion.
Ivonne was interviewed by Silicon Valley Business Journal and reflected on some of her business success and key motivations.
Gaining important experience from a young age
Ivonne leads a successful career at Schneider Electric and attributes some of her strong work ethos to the experience she gained from working at her parents’ business and getting to meet different professionals.
"One client worked at the United Nations," recalls Ivonne. "As I delivered coffee to them, I would ask them about their day and they would share stories of travel and different cultures."
Working for her parent's accounting business after school, Ivonne answered phones, emptied trash cans and made coffee for clients. "I learned that you always need to make your customers feel special, like they are the only ones that matter," suggests Ivonne.
Consolidating key learnings
When it comes to discussing Schneider Electric's products, Ivonne points out their importance. "Our products are deemed critical to our nation. We provide solutions for hospitals, data centers and utility plants, to name a few. Once the pandemic fear passes, I want my team to debrief on our learnings. I want to make sure we don't forget this period in time and ensure we take the time to celebrate each moment."
Bringing a human factor to business
When asked about the impact of COVID-19 on her working situation, Ivonne comments: "I am finding that virtual meetings have become part of the norm and it’s great getting to know our clients on a personal level, with dogs barking and working around nap schedules. All this brings the human factor to business."
Dreaming big and volunteering are important mindsets
Reflecting on what advice she may have for her 18-year-old self, Ivonne says: "Dream big and volunteer for challenging assignments."
Read the full interview here.
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